Folding device.



No. 698,562. Patented Apr. 29, I902.

E. J. SBHUNEMAN.

FOLDING DEVICE.

(Application filed Nay. 15, 1901) (No Model.)

UNITED STATES PATENT ()FFTCE.

EDGAR J. SCIIUNEMAN, OF NEWTON, IOWA.

FOLDING DEVICE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 698,562, dated April 29, 1902.

Application filed November 15, 1901. Serial No. 82,369. (No model.)

To aZZ whom, it may concern:

Be it known that I, EDGAR J. SGHUNEMAN, a

citizen of the United States, residing at New. ton, inthe county of Jasper and State of Iowa, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Apparel, Trousers, and Shirt Folders, of which the following is a specification.

The objects of my invention are to provide a device of the class described of simple, durable, and inexpensive construction that may be easily handled and that may be packed for storing or shipping in a comparatively small space. Y

My object is more specifically to provide a folder upon which a large number of pairs of trousers or shirts may be placed and folded one by one quickly and with great accuracy and which will be piled one above the other in perfect alinement, so that the pile or stack of garments having been folded will present a uniform and finished appearance and the same amount of each garment be exposed at the end of the pile or stack, so that identification-tags may be placed thereon; and, further, it is my object to provide a device of this class which may be placed upon a table or other support and the pile or stack of garments folded where the operator can conveniently manipulate them. Then the entire pile or stack, together with the folding device, may be placed upon a shelf or other support and the folder removed, leaving the pile or stack of garments'upon the shelf and leaving thefolder ready to be used again.

A further object is to provide a device of this class that may be readily and quickly adjusted to fit different sizes and kinds of wearing-apparel.

My invention consists in certain details in the construction, arrangement, and combination of the various parts of the device whereby the objects contemplated are attained, as hereinafter more fully set forth, pointed out in my claims, and illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which Figure 1 shows in perspective the complete folder ready for use. elevation of the same with the upright guiderods in their folded position. Fig. 3 shows an enlarged detail sectional view illustrating a modified form of the device for adjustably Fig. 2 shows'a front connecting the upright guide-rods with the base-board, and Fig. 4: shows a detail elevation of a modified form of upright guide-rod that is adjustable as to length. Fig.5 is a detail view of the hinged plates.

Referring to the accompanying drawings, I have used the reference-numeral 10'to indicate the base-board of the folder. This baseboard is preferably flat on its top and tapered in .thicknessfrom a maximum at its front end to a thin edge at its rear end and is approximately Hat on both surfaces. Attached to the central portion of the front end is a han- -dle 11, and near the forward corners of the base-board are the bolts 12, projected upwardly through the board and screw-threaded at their upper ends, and the winged nuts 13 are provided for the screw-threaded ends of said bolts.

The reference-numeral 14 indicates a flat plate having an L-shaped slot 15 therein, and hinged to the plate 14.. is a top plate 16, also having an L-shaped slot 17, arranged when the-plates are folded one on top of the other to be in alinement with the slot 15. The said bolts 12 are passed through the slots 15 and 17 and provide means whereby the said plates may be adj ustably and detachably connected with the base-board 10, and obviously this adjustment may be in a direction to or from the longitudinal center of the base-board or it may be longitudinally of the base-board on account of the L-shaped slots. Furthermore, the said plates may be turned or rotated. On the outer surface of each of the'plates 16 are two vertical guide-rods 18 of equal. length and separated slightly from each other. A brace 19 is provided for one of each set of upright guide-rods.

The reference numeral 20 indicates a straight round rod designed to pass between each pair of guide-rods and of such length as to extend across the baseboard,

In use the parts are arranged as shown in Fig. 1, and the nuts 13 are screwed tight to firmly hold the plates 14: and'l6 in position.

Said plates are arranged with their rounded edges facing the longitudinal center of the board and the uprights in such position that the rod 20 may be passed between each pair of uprights and be at exactly right angles to the longitudinal center of the base -board.

Assuming that it is desired to fold trousers, the plates 14: and 16are set at a distance from each other corresponding to the width of the trousers-legs. Then the first pair of trousers is placed with the Waistband thereof adjacent to the rear end of the base-board. The trouserslegs then project between the upright guiderods and some distance beyond the forward end of the base-board. Then the rod is placed between the guide-rods and on top of the trousers-legs. Then the trousers-legs are folded over on top of the base-board, thereby covering the rod 20, said rod serving as a straight-edge to accuratelycrease the trouserslegs in such manner that they will be folded along a line exactly at right angles to the longitudinal axis of the base-board. Then one end of the rod 20 is grasped and therod is removed from its position, after which the second pair of trousers is placed with its Waistband on top of the one previously folded, and

the same operation is proceeded with until the pile or stack of trousers stands as high as the guide-rods 18. Obviously at the point where the trousers-legs are folded they will all be in perfect alinement and an equal portion of each pair of trousers will be exposed at the forward end of the board. Then the operator may, if desired, place identification-tags on each pair of trousers. Assuming that it is desired to place the pile or stack of trousers upon a shelf or in any small compartment, the operator grasps the handle 11 and places the rear end of the board upon the shelf and moves the board to a position where the pile or stock of garments is to be placed. Then the base-board is withdrawn by means of the handle 11, leaving the pile or stack of garments in position.

For packing or storing the folder it is obvious that the nuts 13 may be removed, and the top plates 16 may be then folded inwardly to lie comparatively fiat upon top of the board, the slots 17 permitting the said plates to be moved to such positions that the guiderods 18 will not strike each other when being folded. Obviously the guide -rods may be made to lie longitudinally of the board, if desired.

In Fig. 3 I have shown a modified form ofdevice for adjustably clamping the plates 14 and 16 to the base-board. 10. Instead of pro viding slots for the said plates the bolt 21 is passed through an opening in the plate, the head 22 of which is placed in a groove in the top of the board. This groove may of course be'ofany length or shape desired, and by its use the necessity of providing slots in the plates is obviated. I have also provided means for longitudinally adjusting the guiderods 18, as shown in Fig. 4. Tubes 23 are fixed to the plate 16 in place of the guide rods 18, and at the top of the tube 23 is a clamp 24, and the rods 25 are inserted in the upper ends of the tubes 23. Obviously the rods 25 may be vertically adjusted, and the clamps 24 may be made to firmly hold them in any position in which they maybe placed.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States therefor, is-

1. In a device of the class described, the combination of a base, two pairs of upright guides at the corners of one end of the base and adjustable to and from each other, and a rod capable of passing between the guiderods of each pair.

2. In a device of the class described, the combination of, a base, two plates detachably secured to the corners of one end portion of the base and two upright guides fixed to each plate, and a rod passed between each pair of upright guides and to extend at right angles to the longitudinal axis of the base.

3. In a device of the class described, the combination of, a base, two plates detachably and adjustably connected with the corners of one end portion of the base, a pair of upright guides connected with each plate and capable of folding on top of the base to a position resting against the base, a rod to pass between the pairs of guide-rods when they are in their upright position, for the purposes stated.

4. In a device of the class described, the combination of, a flat base tapered from a maximum at its front end to a thin-edge at its rear end, a handle at the front edge of the base, bolts passed upwardly through the corners of the front end portion of the base, two plates 14 each having a plate 16 hinged thereto, said plates being provided with L-shaped slots as set forth, nuts 13 for the bolts 12, two guide-rods 18 on each of the plates 16, and a rod 20 arranged and combined in the manner set forth and for the purposes stated.

EDGAR J. SCHUNEMAN.

Witnesses:

FRED M. TAYLOR, W. 0. MCELROY. 

